From Soundarya, Shefali Jariwala, Sushant Singh Rajput to Jiah Khan, remembering stars who left us too soon

Soundarya was a popular actress in South Indian films, even acting in Hindi cinema, and won a National Award for her performances. On April 17, 2004, she died in a plane crash while flying to Andhra Pradesh for a political campaign. She was 31 years old.

The passing of Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja in 2020 due to cardiac arrest stunned his fans. Chiranjeevi was an actor that brought life to each of his performances with high energy and charisma. Sarja passed away at the young age of forty, a difficult loss for South Indian cinema.

Known fondly as the “Rasna Girl,” Taruni charmed audiences with her innocence and energy. She starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Paa’ (2009) and was seen as a child star with great potential. Sadly, she died in a plane crash in Nepal in 2012, at only 14.

Sushant Singh Rajput was a star who embodied changeability; his journey from television to cinema continues to remind us all to be our true selves and work hard. He began his acting career in ‘Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil’ and ‘Pavitra Rishta’ he made his big-screen debut with ‘Kai Po Che!’ in 2013. His role as M.S. Dhoni in ‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’ kept Rajput in the spotlight. On June 14, 2020, Rajput passed away at the age of 34, leaving the industry broken.

Divya Bharti, a sparkling sensation in the 90s was full of promise with 'Deewana,' 'Shola Aur Shabnam', and 'Balwan'. She rose to stardom at 19 when she fell to her death from her apartment in Mumbai. Her accentuated death in 1993 remains one of Bollywood's greatest tragedies and unsolved mysteries.

Guru Dutt was a visionary filmmaker and actor who gave Indian cinema some of the best classics in ‘Pyaasa’ and ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’. Much like Smitha, he was brilliant, but had to grapple with personal trauma. He died in 1964 at age 39, reportedly overdosed on sleeping pills, taking from the world one of its greatest cinematic minds.

This British-American actress began her career by appearing alongside Amitabh Bachchan in 'Nishabd', and continued to act in 'Ghajini' and 'Housefull'. Her career was bright with promise, and she achieved the rare accomplishment of becoming a celebrity in a country where she had no cultural roots or ties. On June 3, 2013, she was found dead at her residence in Mumbai, with her death ruled to be a suicide, unearthing a multitude of questions about the stresses of being a star.

Madhubala, often called The Venus of Indian Cinema, was pure grace and beauty. Breath-taking and talented despite battling a congenital heart disease, she left her mark in Indian Cinema forever in classic films such as 'Mughal-e-Azam', 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi', and 'Mahal'. She passed away at 36 in 1969, but her magnifying films and performances will last for eternity.

Known as The Tragedy Queen, Meena Kumari’s grace and depth in films like ‘Pakeezah’, ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’, and ‘Baiju Bawra’ made her a legend. Her personal life, however, was marred by loneliness and ill health. She passed away in 1972 at 39 due to liver cirrhosis, just weeks after the release of ‘Pakeezah’.

Known for the hit music video ‘Kaanta Laga’ and her stint in ‘Bigg Boss 13’, Shefali Jariwala’s reported cardiac arrest at 41 stunned the entertainment industry. Her death reignited concerns about rising heart-related fatalities among young actors.

Television and film star Sidharth Shukla, winner of ‘Bigg Boss 13’, was known for his magnetic personality and screen presence. On September 2, 2021, he passed away following a heart attack at just 40. His sudden death left fans and colleagues deeply shaken.

Silk Smitha, originally named Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati, was the reigning epitome of sexuality in South Indian cinema and appeared in over 200 films. However, behind the glamorous image was a tale of solitude and hardship. Smitha died by suicide in 1996 at the age of 35. She lived life fiercely and richly, but came to a very tragic end.